Wilks is impressing on loan from Leeds at Doncaster Rovers.
Mallik Wilks has been on fire for loan side Doncaster Rovers this season but it was his latest performance that will have caught the eye of Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa, ahead of the summer transfer window.
Wilks, 20, stole the show as Doncaster produced a giant killing on Sunday in the third round of the FA Cup, by knocking out Championship opposition in Preston North End away from home.
The Leeds loanee created Doncaster’s opener which was headed home by John Marquis, before finishing off the match itself by scoring Doncaster’s third in the 3-1 triumph.
Wilks controlled a long, looping ball after breaking past the Preston defence. Under pressure, he had the nous to control the ball past the onrushing Michael Crowe and tap home into an empty net.
It takes the attacker’s tally to nine goals and seven assists from out wide this season, which is an impressive return for someone still in the early stages of their career – and at League One level.
Leeds handed Wilks a new contract earlier this month before extending his Doncaster loan until the end of the season. But his performance against Preston shows that he is more than capable of playing at Championship level.
Bielsa will be keeping an even closer eye on his performances for Doncaster now, with Wilks more than capable of returning to Leeds in the summer and acting like a new signing.
Wilks has only ever managed one senior appearance for Leeds, which came in the embarrassing loss to Sutton United. But he is a completely different player with experience, and form, under his belt.
He will be like a new signing when he returns from his loan in the summer – if he maintains his form – and Bielsa will surely give him the chance to shine at Elland Road ahead of the 2019-20 season.
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